FALL 2007: RACE, CLASS AND ETHNICITY IN LATIN AMERICA
Immigration: Milans Story Slide 2 Farmland (PSF) Female
professional, 47: Well, we were getting ready to buy a house when
land prices tripled.... Then they notified everyone that PSF was
moving in, so that affected us and it wasnt until they got the
plant built, there wasnt much change, and then all of a sudden we
started seeing an influction of Latinos, and they gradually kept
growing. Slide 3 Male professional immigrant, 46: Well, I think its
good because everybody, everybody around this town we live off it.
I dont work at PSF, but you know I live off the customers working
there. If it wasnt for PSF, this store probably wouldnt be here. So
actually the whole town, we live off the plant. Farmland (PSF)
Slide 4 Im not sure exactly what I had thought it would look like,
but I definitely assumed it would contain more evidence of Hispanic
culture. Perhaps I thought it would look slightly more like a small
town in Mexico rather than a small town in the Midwest. -Laine
Slide 5 Language Interviewer: So was there a translator at the
school before you? Female professional, 26: There was. Well theres
actually three of us now, and theres one for the high school, one
for the middle school and me. Slide 6 Language Instead of helping
themselves, the community of Milan asks for translators to do the
work for them. But until they understand the language of what is
now the majority population of the community, they will continue to
struggle. - Jeff Slide 7 Education Interviewer: Do you find that
they pick up English more quickly? Female professional, 26: Yeah,
because they dont have anything in their minds, you know, they just
have what you tell them. The bigger kids have a lot of, you know,
stuff already there, so, I think its easier for younger kids to
learn to speak English. Slide 8 It was interesting to find out that
the English only speakers were in the minority with only 8 of 19
students. -Cynthia Education Slide 9 Race Female professional, 23:
I feel more at home there [in the Dominican Republic where her
husband is from] than I do here [her hometown] with some of the
white people. Mateo: O pero si, les deca algunas especialmente las
norteamericanas que les gustan a los hispanos y tambin un hombre
norteamericano que le gustan a las hispanas, hay algunos que tienen
sus esposas, en PSF y algunas con los esposos. Slide 10 Health I
thought it was interesting that one of the interviewees pointed out
how Latinos tend to take care of each other instead of always
running to the doctor. I think this is a big difference between
Americans and Hispanics. Family care and love is sometimes better
than anything a doctor can give you, and this concept is not a big
part of the American mindset. -Jessica Slide 11 Housing Female
immigrant, 32: La razn porque me vine de m pas es por, por porque
la verdad all no tena ni donde tener un techo, hacer una casa, yo
quera en algn da tener una casa, algo ms quera yo, por un futuro
mejor. I couldnt believe that once condemned houses are now being
rented out once again. -Dylan Slide 12 Activities Female
professional, 23: In Milan? I guess rent a movie, go out to eat,
theres not very many food options, but you can get a good meal
around here. Theres lots of Mexican restaurants and Subway. Slide
13 Religion Interviewer: What is your religion? Female
professional, 60: Catholic. Interviewer: Do you see a lot of
Hispanics? Female professional, 60: Oh, sure, theyre all Catholic.
Slide 14 Discrimination Female professional, 61: I dont know if I
would call it discrimination but they tell people; they tell people
that if they dont speak English that they are talked to in certain
way or they are not given enough time to explain themselves. Slide
15 Cultural Change Interviewer: Yeah, yeah, its been a while. How
do you think that the white and Latino population interact in
Milan. Do you notice any? Female professional, 26: Well they,
theyre starting to interact. Theyre doing a lot of things together
now. Like, they church together. And they have all these Mexican
holidays together. I think were doing okay. Slide 16 Cultural
Change Interviewer: Tell me about your important cultural
traditions. Female professional, 60: Oh, so its more for the Latino
population. Oh yeah. No, you know, the same things that are
important to you. Christmas, tooth fairy, you know. Slide 17 JINS
338, Fall 2007 Slide 18 http://www.lulu.com/content/1900420
